Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Impact Of Creativity In Specialized Learning Environments, Samantha Jo Stewart

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Stewart, Samantha, M.A., Summer 2025 Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Chairperson: Dr. Jeb Puryear

This study investigates the impact of creative instructional strategies on student engagement and learning in a K–5 Structured Learning Program (SLP) serving students with behavioral challenges, trauma histories, autism, and twice-exceptionality (2e). A mixed-methods approach was used to compare two instructional periods: September to December, during which traditional teaching methods were used, and January to June, when flexible, creativity-based practices were introduced. Instructional shifts included increased student choice, multimodal tasks, and scaffolded opportunities for divergent thinking. Data sources included daily staff reflections, classroom observations, and student work …

Predicting Language And Literacy Success In Children With And Without Developmental Language Disorder, Melissa Catherine Phelan

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of phonological, orthographic, and morphological awareness in predicting language and literacy success for children with developmental language disorder (DLD), DLD with dyslexia, and typically developing (TD) children. DLD, a prevalent yet underdiagnosed condition, is associated with significant psychosocial and academic challenges, including a roughly 50% likelihood of developing dyslexia. Current identification systems rely on inconsistent parent/teacher referrals, which miss approximately 60% of children with DLD and over 33% with dyslexia, limiting access to effective interventions. This study longitudinally examines whether kindergarten screenings of three metalinguistic skills—phonological, orthographic, and morphological awareness—predict …

Designing A Behavior-Supportive Literacy Block Using Ufli Phonics For First Grade Students With Behavioral Challenges, Julia Lynne Pugh

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Students with behavioral challenges tend to struggle while engaging with structured academic instruction, particularly in foundational literacy blocks. In fact, in 2021, it was reported that 27.7% of children aged 3-17 struggle with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. (Leeb et al., 2024) While programs such as UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) offer highly effective phonics instruction, these programs typically lack embedded support for individuals struggling with self-regulation, attention, and task persistence. As a result, these students are presented with a higher risk of falling behind in their reading skills. In this project, the author aims to develop a …

Hormonal Decay After Death: Evaluating Dhea-S As A Potential Molecular Marker For Postmortem Estimation, Marisa Lydia Novak

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation is a central component of forensic anthropological investigation, but traditional methods for estimating time since death lose accuracy after ~72 hours. Recent research indicates that some steroid hormones may undergo predictable degradation patterns after death, offering potential use as biochemical clocks for PMI estimation beyond this threshold. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfate form (DHEA-S) are of particular interest due to their metabolic stability, systemic influence, and association with trauma. This study investigates whether DHEA-S hormonal degradation patterns correlate with time elapsed since death and body temperature, evaluating their potential as biochemical PMI markers. 160 mL of …

Structural And Dynamic Properties Of Gas-Phase Molecules In High-Order Harmonic Generation: Insights From Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Calculations, Christopher Michael King

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

High-order harmonic generation, or HHG, is a highly nonlinear quantum optical process capable of generating X-ray/ultraviolet radiation. An atom or molecule is irradiated with a mid-IR laser at high intensity, ionizes, and then emits high-frequency light at integer multiples of the driving laser frequency when an ionized electron recollides with the molecular ion. A convenient tabletop source of coherent XUV light and a common seed for free-electron lasers, HHG can also serve as a self-probe of the source atom or molecule. In the latter case, the HHG spectrum can provide valuable insight into the structure and dynamics of the species …

From Plumes To People: Constraining The Emissions, Chemistry, And Health Impacts Of Western U.S. Smoke, Lixu Jin

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Wildfires are a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the western U.S., emitting hundreds to thousands of species that play key roles in tropospheric oxidation, ozone production, and secondary organic aerosol formation. Many VOCs have only recently been identified and quantified in laboratory burning experiments, leaving uncertainties about their emission estimates from wildfires, their roles in plume OH oxidation chemistry, and their evolution during smoke aging. This dissertation aims to improve our understanding of the emissions, chemistry, and health impacts of VOCs in wildfire smoke using detailed in-situ measurements made during the summer 2018 Western Wildfire Experiment for …

Sb23-24/25: Resolution Allowing Category Allocation Board To Send More Than 10% To The Senate Discretionary, Natalie Schoen

Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present

Resolution Allowing Category Allocation Board to Send More Than 10% to the Senate Discretionary. This resolution passed on a roll call vote (RCV) during the January 29, 2025 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Strategic Analysis Of Wendy's, Cameryn Rudd

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Lives And Lessons Of Zoo Animals, Nicole Emlen

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This project was an interdisciplinary museum exhibit that was displayed at the Montana Natural History Center between April 4 and May 12, 2025. It displays my photographs that I took of some of the animals I worked with during my summer 2024 internship at ZooMontana. In this project, I educate the public about three main functions of zoos--rescue, conservation, and education--through the stories and lives of four species. These animals all have unique stories that are important to share to improve public knowledge of why zoos are important and how we can improve relationships between humans and wildlife. Photography is …

Foraging Opportunists: Encouraging Reconnection With The Land, Madelyne Miller, Sylvia Blodorn, Aine Fannon, Ada Scott, Luke Pruitt

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Contextualizing the history of opportunist and native plant species opens options for land management and reconnection to cultural land practices. By recognizing that opportunist species often spread as a result of relocation for practical usage, we determine that reintroducing these uses can lead to an escalation in harvesting these plants. Uses of opportunist plants are diverse and include food sources, artistic practices, and medicine. Foraging also leads to improved human-land-connectedness as well as a deeper connection to ancestral and cultural traditions, which has been found to improve mental health. Focusing on this method of land management will limit the need …

No Evidence For Warming-Driven Extirpation Of Tallgrass Prairie Plants, Emily D. Horner, Meredith Zettlemoyer

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

More and more species face extinction as our climate warms. Understanding how climate change influences local extinctions may help us comprehend and predict global extinctions. Ultimately, local extinctions stem from declines in vital rates such as survival, growth, and reproduction. One way to examine how warming might have affected local extinctions is to compare responses between locally extinct versus extant (still present) species. In this comparative framework, more negative effects of warming on locally extinct species’ (but not extant species’) vital rates would suggest a role of warming in their local extinction. We also expect that locally extinct species would …

Poor Little Woman And Sybil Of The Rhine: Code Switching In Hildegard Of Bingen’S Writing, Bridgett Meskis

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Hildegard of Bingen (1098- 1179) was a twelfth century German Benedictine abbess, mystic, author, composer, and theologian. Despite the heavily patriarchal and restrictive culture of her day, Hildegard managed to gain autonomy and authority within her community. She benefited from a boom in popularity in the mid-1990s, which saw a broadening of research subjects, including focus on the gender dynamics at play in Hildegard’s life. This scholarship has died down significantly since. Given the breadth and depth of her work, Hildegard of Bingen’s work deserves to be revisited through more recent theoretical lenses that can provide significant insights into her …

Exploring The Impacts Of Secondary/Foreign Language Development On Childhood Development, Malone A. Ingram

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The central topic of my research project explores the positive impacts that early second language acquisition has on childhood development . I examine its effect through the lens of bilingual education in Missoula County Public Schools, identifying possible shortcomings in the language education programs in elementary schools, as well as feasible solutions. I approach this research from two distinct directions: a literature review and original data collection. I will analyse existing studies and information relating to bilingualism and its positive impact on childhood development. This will provide context and support for my interview questions. Next, for my own independent research, …

A Good Neighbor Gone Bad: Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy, Corporate Interests, And The Rise Of Communist Activity In Guatemala And Honduras, 1954, Ava Mae Debourg

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This paper examines the U.S. foreign policy response to the 1954 Honduran General Strike, where nearly 15% of the workforce mobilized against the exploitative practices of the United Fruit Company (UFCO). What began as a labor dispute among dock workers on Honduras’ northern coast quickly escalated into a nationwide protest, drawing support from students, teachers, and artisans against the UFCO and the national oligarchic elite. Using State Department documents, CIA reports, and media coverage from Time and The New York Times, this study analyzes how U.S. officials in Honduras and Washington, D.C. responded to the strike. Despite a history …

Joann: Analyzing The Downfall Of America’S Beloved Crafting Retailer, Savanna Solano

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

The Legal Debate: Corner Crossing And Public Land Access, Kaden Leverenz

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Is it legal to cross from one corner of public land to an adjacent corner of public land across checkerboarded landscapes in the American West? This question regarding corner crossing has become one of the most prominent and unresolved issues in public land access. Although federal courts in Iron Bar Holdings v. Cape (2025) confirmed corner crossing, without touching or damaging private land, does not constitute trespass, the legal landscape still remains unsettled. Public land users play a significant role in shaping the direction of this issue, as demonstrated by past public mobilizations against large-scale land sell-offs. Therefore, this paper …

Balancing Timber Harvest And Biodiversity: Impacts Of Selective Logging On Wildlife In The Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize, Kilynn Groen

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Selective logging is often promoted as a sustainable forestry practice that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet its ecological consequences remain under examined, particularly in tropical forests. This study investigates how selective logging affects wildlife communities in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize. Using remote camera trap data from 22 sites (9 unlogged forest sites and 13 logged (stump) sites), we assessed species richness, trophic structure, and environmental predictors of wildlife abundance. While overall wildlife captures and species richness did not differ significantly between forest and stump habitats, principal component analysis revealed strong community-level separation, with stump habitats supporting distinct species …

Assessing Intra-Seasonal Changes In Summer Elk Diet Composition, Ava E. Window

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Elk (Cervus canadensis) require adequate forage to fulfill their seasonal nutritional requirements. Elk undergo their highest nutritional demands during summer to support critical life functions such as late gestation, lactation, and juvenile growth. However, variations in plant phenology significantly influence the quality and quantity of forage available to elk during the summer season. As summer advances and plant communities mature, forage quality often declines, leading to a landscape that imposes greater nutritional constraints on elk. As a result, prior research on elk foraging habits has primarily focused on late summer. This has led to limited knowledge surrounding the …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio: Rooted In Community, Whitney Wb Pratt

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Master Of Social Work: Portfolio, Beth Alma Krueger

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The MSW portfolio comprises a comprehensive professional portfolio developed during the pursuit of a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The content reflects academic and field experiences structured around core social work competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). These competencies include ethical and professional behavior, engagement with diversity and difference, advancement of human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice, practice-informed research, and policy practice.

The document includes personal reflections, case narratives, and analyses demonstrating the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical skills in a variety of settings, including internships and community-based programs. Specific attention is …

Cultivating A Community-Based Food System In Western Montana, Elaina Lamphere

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Diving Into Watershed Science And Education: Blending Science, Storytelling, And Professional Practice In Northern Michigan, Mara Clare Pellerito

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio expands understanding of the relationship between watershed education and science through storytelling, lived experiences, and research. In northern Michigan, the invasive Myriophyllum spicatum threatens watershed health by forming dense patches that block sunlight, exclude native plants and wildlife, and retain harmful nutrients later released by herbicide treatment. The Lake Leelanau Lake Association has managed this species with preventative and restorative practices since 2020, and this portfolio examines their results through scientific study and practical experience from the summers of 2024 and 25. It also explores how education serves as a stepping stone from childhood curiosity to a lifetime …

Grounded Practice: Leadership And Integrity In Complex Systems, Tonja Smith

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio presents the integration of advanced social work competencies developed through the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Grounded in evidence-informed practice, the work demonstrates applied skills in assessment, intervention, group facilitation, policy practice, and interagency collaboration across rural and multidisciplinary settings. Artifacts highlight structured approaches to Batterer Intervention Groups, Domestic Violence Inventories, Family Group Conferencing, and Supported Education, with an emphasis on accountability, safety, and culturally responsive engagement.

The narrative analyzes how positionality, reflective practice, and cultural humility shape professional judgment, particularly when navigating structural inequities and conflicting system demands. The portfolio illustrates the …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Derek Thrush

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Amy Sanders

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

MSW Portfolio through the lens of "otherness".

Msw Portfolio, Hailey E. Owens

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Marie Nelson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Professional Portfolio, Jill M. Henry

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Professional Portfolio, Samantha Elizabeth Chase

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Steven Asire

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This work encapsulates my progression both throughout my time in the MSW program as well as my practicum and professional experience working in the mental health field. The portfolio applies past work and describes my progression from a micro lense in practice to a more holistic approach, including mezzo and macro levels of focus and how these progressions will influence my future work.